Keith Richards on live show payday: ‘£16m sounds about right to us’

Guitarist hints at 2013 shows and Glastonbury appearance in new interview

Rankin

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards says he does not want to charge fans high prices to see the band, despite the fact that tickets for the newly announced London shows range from £90 to a deluxe package priced at £950.

Appearing on BBC 6Music, Richards addressed rumours that the band will personally pocket £16m from the run of live shows, saying: “I haven’t looked at the figures – numbers can get greatly exaggerated. I just wanna do some shows and I don’t want to charge over the bloody top. I’m a bit out of the loop with showbiz. £16m sounds about right to us.”

Richards will join his bandmates for two night’s at London’s 02 Arena on November 25 and 29 to celebrate their 50th anniversary. They will also be playing two nights at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey in the US on December 13 and 15.

Asked by 6Music’s Matt Everitt if there will be more shows beyond the 50th anniversary gigs, Richards said that he “wouldn’t be surprised,” adding: “Nobody has given us a heads up but this band isn’t going to wind up with four shows. Next year looks like it is on.”

Richards also expressed interest in appearing at Glastonbury – weather permitting: “On a good day if the weather’s fine that’s an interesting proposition. The band wants to get these four gigs under their belt and then think about next year after that. Anything is possible with this band.”

The Rolling Stones will release a brand new greatest hits compilation in November titled ‘GRRR!’. The collection, which coincides with the band’s 50th anniversary, will feature two brand new songs, ‘Doom And Gloom’ and ‘One More Shot’, which were recorded in Paris last month. This is the first new material the band have recorded since their 2005 album ‘A Bigger Bang’.

Rolling Stones tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday (October 19). To check the availability of Rolling Stones tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

If you can’t find the Rolling Stones tickets you are looking for, go to the NME Ticket Exchange.

Remember if you have spare tickets, don’t let them go to waste. Sell your tickets to other Rolling Stones fans.

This Week's Magazine

Connect With Us

NME Newsletter

Your email address:

By submitting your details, you will also receive emails from Time Inc. UK, publisher of NME and other iconic brands about its goods and services, and those of its carefully selected third parties. Please tick here if you’d prefer not to hear about:

Time Inc.'s goods & services, including all the latest news, great deals and offers